REVISITING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HISTORY AND ITS RELEVANCE TO THE LAW PROFESSION

Abstract

Following the removal of history from the academic disciplinesin Nigeria’s educational curriculum in 2009, many unsavorydefinitions were prom oted to justify its diminished significancevis à vis other academic disciplines like the proverbial dog tojustify its killing. Such definitions seem to portray the subject asmere stories of no consequence which need not bother criticalminds. But with the reintroduction of the discipline of historyinto the Nigerian school academic curri culum in all segments oflearning in 2020, October 16, it becomes very necessary toundrape the changing relevance of the discipline long forsaken,misinterpreted and misunderstood and as well show thechanging significance of history to the society and to otherdisciplines such as Law. The paper discovered that the disdainthe discipline has suffered in the time past, apart fromignorance, has been largely due to lack of adequate awarenessof the rich content and significance of the discipline coupled withthe definitions bequeathed to it by the colonial masters includingdeliberate attempt to conceal events that otherwise would havebeen of immense benefit to the development of the nation. Theperiod covered by this work spans from precolonial period toth e period of reinstatement of history as an academic disciplinein 2020. This paper discovered through a re examination ofextant literature the invaluable nature of history to not onlyindividuals and institutions and leaders but to the discipline ofLaw. It would be an invaluable resource to students of Law, history, state administrators and curriculum planners of Nigeria .